Protests against the Supreme Court’s order directing Karnataka to immediately release 50,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to Tamil Nadu from state reservoirs have intensified in Mandya.
Vehicular traffic between Bangalore and Mysore was hit on Thursday morning when farmers staged a protest on Bangalore-Mysore Highway near Induvalu, Kallahalli, Sanjay Circle, Gejjalagere and at some other places between Srirangapatna and Maddur. Though the vehicular movement between Bangalore and Mysore was disrupted by roadblocks, train services were normal.
While Mandya Zilla Raitha Hitarakshana Samiti (MZRHS) launched a protest near Sir M. Visvesvaraya statue off Bangalore-Mysore Highway near Kallahalli on Thursday morning, members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) blocked traffic on several main roads in Srirangapatna, Pandavapur, Malavalli, Maddur, K.R. Pet, Nagamangala and several parts of Mandya.
MZRHS president and former president G. Madegowda and others condemned the Supreme Court’s order to release water and burnt an effigy and posters of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
Mr. Madegowda, former minister M.S. Atmananda, and other leaders urged Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar not to release water to Tamil Nadu. They also urged the State government to protect the interests of farmers in the State. The protesters were joined by members of various organisations and students.
Tight security
Meanwhile, the Mandya district police scaled up security at Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir (KRS) near Srirangapatna on Thursday. Two deputy superintendents of police (DYSP) and four inspectors of police, besides around 300 police personnel, have been deployed round-the-clock to monitor the security arrangements at KRS. Mandya Superintendent of Police Koushalendra Kumar has been supervising the security arrangements.
